Sunderland ended a 364 day wait for a home win last weekend by beating Fulham 1-0 at the Stadium of Light.

Josh Maja's strike was enough to lift the Black Cats out of the Championship relegation zone and now Chris Coleman's side will look to make it two successive league wins.

Opportunities to do so don't come any greater than against bottom side Birmingham City as well, and the Black Cats could potentially open up some daylight between themselves and the bottom three with a win.

It will serve them well going into a busy festive period which sees Sunderland also travel to Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest, as well as a home clash with fellow strugglers Barnsley.

Can they build on that victory this afternoon?

Join James Hunter, Stuart Rayner and Stuart Jamieson for live updates from the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland 1-1 Birmingham City

Key Events

Signing off

That’s all from us tonight - thanks for joining us, we’ll be back first thing tomorrow with all the Christmas Eve analysis.

18:34KEY EVENT

Watch: Hunter's verdict

Here’s our man James Hunter’s video verdict

18:01KEY EVENT

Player ratings

Here’s who impressed James Hunter today.

17:38James Hunter

Darron Gibson

Coleman: Gibson has got a groin problem, and with the games we have coming up we couldn’t risk him any longer than we did. I hope he won’t miss Boxing Day - we’ll wait and see when it settled down

17:37James Hunter

Nervous

Coleman: Of all the games, this is the one in which we looked a bit nervous, a bit tentative. I’m disappointed from that perspective. It could have been worse because once we went a goal down, it could have been ‘here we go again’.

17:37James Hunter

Confidence

Coleman: There were key moments in the game where we lacked a bit of confidence.

17:35James Hunter

Coleman verdict

Coleman: I’m disappointed - it was an opportunity missed. We were a bit nervous for some reason.

17:25James Hunter

Oh Vito

This just gets worse

17:24James Hunter

Match report

Frustrating.

16:57KEY EVENT

Second-half key moments

54mins Vaughan turns in midfield, strides forwards and hits a low shot from 25 yards which goes just wide of the right-hand post

57mins BOOKING: Gallagher booked for a dive inside the area

59mins Honeyman attempted cross from the left was curling in, but Stockdale turns it onto the woodwork and behind

64mins BOOKING: Kieftenbeld booked for a foul on Gooch

68mins SENT OFF: Gallagher shown a second yellow and then a red card after a foul on Vaughan

72mins Grabban picks out Honeyman with a ball to feet just inside the area, he controls but steers his shot wide of the left-hand post when he should have scored

75mins SUB: Ndong replaces Gibson for Sunderland

75mins SUB: Asoro replaces Vaughan for Sunderland

75mins SUB: Maja replaces Grabban for Sunderland

79mins SUB: Maghoma replaces Boga for Birmingham

79mins SUB: Davis replaces Jota for Birmingham

81mins BOOKING: Dean booked for a foul on Maja

81mins: Matthews’ low free-kick from 20 yards out is saved by Stockdale

86mins SUB: Jutkiewicz replaces Ndoye for Birmingham

16:54Stuart Rayner

Wilson impresses

Turns out back-to-back home wins was asking too much. No lack of effort but shortage of composure at times. Marc Wilson excellent in 2nd half.

16:52James Hunter

FULL TIME

And that’s it - Sunderland 1-1 Birmingham

16:50James Hunter

Waste

#SAFC waste possession again. They’ve been too frenetic as they go chasing victory. Certainly can’t accuse Brum of that as they receive another yellow card for time-wasting. 1-1

16:48James Hunter

Added time

Four minutes of added time.

16:47Stuart Rayner

Nearly

Great ball from Wilson to Asoro but youngster can’t quite get it under control. Time running out for #SAFC to improve this 1-1 scoreline

16:46Stuart Rayner

Time running out

Huge disappointment or massive elation heading #SAFC’s way with clock running down at 1-1

16:45James Hunter

Training day

Birmingham defending deep - it’s attack-vs-defence for the last 5mins.

16:43James Hunter

Final change

One more switch

16:40Stuart Rayner

Playing for time

Stockdale time-wasting now. Not hard to see how rest of game is going to be layed, question is can #SAFC find net?

16:40Stuart Rayner

Reshape

Jota is off as part of Birmingham’s double-sub. #SAFC have reshaped well to quieten him in 2nd half. More on that later. As I type, Dean picks up yellow card for what looks lot like professional foul on Maja.

16:39James Hunter

Booking

Dean booked for tugging back Maja just outside the area.

16:38Stuart Rayner

More subs

Birmingham changes

16:33Stuart Rayner

The subs

Here they come

16:32Stuart Rayner

Big changes

Grabban is off balance & off target but at least play all at right end. Now comes triple sub of Maja, Asoro & Ndong to take roof off at #SAFC. Gibson, Grabban & Vaughan make way at 1-1

16:31James Hunter

Ndong ready

Didier Ndong about to come on

16:30Stuart Rayner

Chance

Honeyman misses good chance after being put through by Grabban. Seemed to think might be offside but flag stayed down so #SAFC still pushing at 1-1

16:25KEY EVENT

Red card

Sam Gallacher sent off after rash tackle on Vaughan. His earlier dive has been costly which to be honest is good to see

16:24Stuart Rayner

Wasted chance

Disappointing free-kick at keeper by Gibson after some beautiful footwork to win it by Marc Wilson of all people.

16:23James Hunter

Booking

Kieftenbeld booked for a foul

16:19Stuart Rayner

Ha'way the lads

The crowd trying to do their bit after couple of good moment down left from Honeyman, who’s pushed on despite Jota’s threat.